£9m investment will create 80 new jobs in Belfast

3PAR, the leading global provider of utility storage, has established a global R&D centre in Belfast with over £1 million of support from Invest Northern Ireland. Assuming 3PAR achieves its planned objectives, including the creation of up to 80 high-value software development positions, 3PAR could deliver up to £7.5 million in salaries by 2010.

3PAR have hired an engineering team at its new development centre and is continuing its search for additional engineering talent.

Announcing the arrival of the Silicon Valley company, Minister Dodds said: “It is a tremendous achievement to secure the presence of a strategic R&D centre by such a prestigious firm in the enterprise data storage market. This is further evidence of the continuing successful business relationships between the US and Northern Ireland.

“3PAR has realised the potential of Northern Ireland’s highly skilled workforce and the value this European location can add to its global expansion. Talented local people will benefit from the variety of high-quality career opportunities offered by 3PAR in Belfast, and will have an opportunity to share and develop those skills as they work closely with their R&D colleagues in the US.

The Minister added: “With ICT identified as a key growth sector for Northern Ireland, Invest NI has been actively targeting high-tech companies based in Silicon Valley as part of its inward investment strategy. This project is another tangible success of that strategy, which continues to bring benefits to the local economy and affirms the positive return on our commitment in the US marketplace for inward investment opportunities.”

David Scott, President and CEO of 3PAR added: “The availability of skilled graduates and experienced software engineers coupled with the Invest NI partnership were key factors in our decision to locate our new R&D centre in Belfast. We are thrilled to be able to position critical engineering resources closer to our European customers."